The Duolingo English Test and East Africa: Preliminary linking results with IELTS & CEFR

Abstract

We study the validity of the Duolingo English Test for high-stakes university admissions, using data from Carnegie Mellon University’s satellite campus in Rwanda. We find that Duolingo scores submitted during the 2015 application process are significantly correlated with IELTSTM scores (r = 0.834). We then link Duolingo test scores to the IELTS exam, with results that are consistent with previous research linking Duolingo scores to the TOEFL® iBT exam. Finally, we infer CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) levels from this linking, and find that they are consistent with the design of the Duolingo English Test scale.